Special to the Register

Iowa State supporters will head to their favorite hangouts for the intra-state rivalry.

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Saturday’s gridiron match between Iowa State and the University of Iowa will have fans leaving their living-room recliners behind to seek out like-minded supporters at metro-area bars.

While many area establishments will offer plenty of cold beer and massive television screens to help viewers clock every play, these bars are known as home-away-from-home hangouts for Hawkeyes and Cyclones. Notice we’ve got three picks for each; we’re not about to take sides on this one.

Black and Gold

Front Row, 6555 University Ave., Windsor Heights; www.frontrowbar.com

True Hawkeye fans need no introduction — Front Row on University is Des Moines’ black-and-gold mecca. If the life-sized Herky the Hawk statue greeting patrons out front doesn’t convince you, show up on a Saturday. The place is packed with fans in Iowa gear who toast wildly to every touchdown, and it’s decked out in Hawkeye bar lamps, clocks, photos and other paraphernalia. Game day specials include $3.50 tall boys and free food — they’ll be grilling out.

Jimmy's on 8th, 1238 Eighth St., West Des Moines; www.jimmyson8th.com

Jimmy’s may have stripped the “Big 10” from their name, but they’re still a big hangout for hardcore Hawkeye fans. In fact, they’re the official home of the Polk County I-Club, and they’re hosting a broadcast of the Hawkeye Nation Radio Show at 6 p.m. every Wednesday during the football season. That plus the top-notch food, 60-inch TVs for optimal game-watching, a huge patio and tailgating every Saturday make it a can’t miss game-day experience (beyond, you know, Kinnick Stadium). The festivities kick off at 10 a.m., along with an array of drink specials: $15 domestic buckets ($17 for imports), $4 Jimmy’s Lemonade (Svedka, Citron and lemonade), $1 Jell-O shots and $5 Red Bull bombs. If you’re a member of the Hawkeye Mug Club, bottles, draws and wells are $1 off.

This Hawkeye haunt in Valley Junction mixes a sports bar atmosphere with a full-fledged menu. Beyond classics like the grilled tenderloin and boneless wings, they also offer a deep-fried, beer-battered burger that’s almost as satisfying as an Iowa pick-six. Need something to wash it all down? They offer a yardstick-sized flute of beer for those brave enough to attempt it. Who wants to chug on touchdowns and Burt Reynolds sightings?

Cardinal and Gold

Saints Pub, 4041 Urbandale Ave.; www.saintspub.com

Saints in Beaverdale is a longtime favorite with the ISU crowd, boasting a huge patio for up to 200, 20 flat-screen TVs for a view of the game anywhere in the bar, and a menu full of game day eats like sliders and bacon-jalapeno guacamole. For early-rising State fans, they even offer $4 mimosas and bloody marys on Saturday and Sunday. During the game Saints sells $15 tall boy buckets on the patio and $7 domestic pitchers inside.

Johnny's Hall of Fame, 302 Court Ave.; www.johnnyshalloffame.com

While late-night regulars might be familiar with Johnny’s Hall of Fame as a Court Avenue staple, it’s also a haven for Cyclones fans in the metro area during daylight hours. Although the decor is all-inclusive, this old-school sports bar is a popular pick for cardinal-and-gold game watchers. Plus, with a full menu and a respectable selection of beers, there’s little reason to leave your bar stool (except for the game-winning field goal, of course). Even better: Saturday games mean $2.75 Miller bottles and $4 Red Bull-vodkas.

As the official game watch location of the Greater Des Moines Cyclone Club, The Keg Stand is a fair substitute for Jack Trice Stadium when you can’t hitch a ride to Ames. This sports-centered pub has tons of seating with TVs everywhere, and an extensive, always growing collection of on-tap beers — you could try a new one every change of possession. We hear the owner is an Iowa State alum, so you can bet the bar will always side with Cy. The only thing missing is a cannon for touchdown celebrations; is there some sort of law against that?